And it sticks. I mean, focus your attention in that little world of meanings and symbols long enough and you’ll tend to get stuck there.
But reality is infinitely larger than that little world. So to stay there, in that little world, to have your perspective altered like that all the time, is a bit unhealthy and insane.
But this is considered normal. Encouraged even.
Permutation City blew my mind too. Such great ideas. Definitely in my top 10 faves.
Diaspora, and other Egan too, ya. But PC most of all. I’ve read it like 6 times. It’s got that proper scifi vibe. The walls of reality crumble.
(Btw, what was the meaning of the testicular spasm? Was it a metaphor?)
I think it was just an odd way of making him seem more human and normal. Also the fact that he doesn’t mention anything about it also happening in his previous lives leaves an interesting open question that could either lend credence or hinder his whole backstory… At least that’s how I interpreted it.
All in all, though… one of the less awkward and more impactful sex scenes in a science-y book, which is much better than the usual ones I remember because they’re terrible and awkward and don’t fit in with the surrounding plot lol
Maybe it was a mark of his alienness. A fundamental human pleasure rendered painful. He was on his hundredth universe after all.